Looking to design an addition and would like to do it on my MBA M1. Any recommendations on either a free or inexpensive design program to do floor layout and exterior 3D?

sweethome3d is my goto

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Mac,

Lost beat me to it. Sweethome3D is great. I used it when laying out my previous and current apartments. Did the job nicely for creating an overall picture of what both places would like like with basic furnishings. Lots of extra images available for it free of charge and for purchase.

Robert

Thanks! Doesn't look like it does exterior views or did I miss that? Not a complete dealbreaker as I can do that in a program that I use to develop 3D printing projects but would be nicer to use an all in one.

Mac,

It isn't designed for exterior. Just interior.

Robert

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macphanatic
Thanks! Doesn't look like it does exterior views or did I miss that? Not a complete dealbreaker as I can do that in a program that I use to develop 3D printing projects but would be nicer to use an all in one.

You can get views of the exterior, but its pretty rudimentary. You could create your own exterior objects and add them to the app's library. There's a slew of compatible objects all over the web and free editors.

The app is free on the sweethome3d site, but I think the paid version on the app store has a bigger object library. Here's a layout for my shop. Crude, but it was really useful.

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Is there an application that doesn't require Java?

Anything recommended for outdoor addons? We are looking to tear out our existing deck and replace it with a two-story deck with a gabled roof and stairs.